Nelson to sue Fenech?
Posted: 13 Oct 2008, 19:07
By Jon Anderson
October 14, 2008 12:00am
AZUMAH Nelson is pursuing legal action over money he claims is owed to him from his June 24 fight against Jeff Fenech.
Nelson, 50, who is in Australia as a special guest for the boxing Hall of Fame, alleges he is owed more than $500,000 after coming out of a 10-year retirement to fight Fenech at Hisense Arena this year.
Nelson controversially lost the fight, despite claiming in an interview with the Herald Sun yesterday that he could have knocked out Fenech.
The legendary super featherweight from Accra, Ghana, is angry, claiming Fenech and the promoter of the glorified spar, Sydney celebrity manager Max Markson, must "look their God in the eye".
"I deal with God directly. Nobody does something to me and go free. He (Fenech) is going to put himself in big problem," said Nelson, who in a 39-fight career fought legends such as Salvador Sanchez, Wilfredo Gomez and Pernell Whitaker. "Big trouble. God will become annoyed with him . . . Today you think you are free, but tomorrow you are not."
What is not in question is the amount that has already been paid, a figure of $272,000 going to both Fenech and Nelson.
But Nelson said he took the fight believing the fee would be $800,000. Markson claims that fee was dependent on a combination of factors.
"Had we sold the fight to the US or England, had more clubs and pubs taken the fight, had more homes paid to view.
"Azumah is well aware of the exact figures and I'm happy to discuss them with him," said Markson. "There was a crowd of 6000, including complementaries. Jeff (Fenech) was actually very happy with the final figure."
Nelson said he agreed to the fight only to raise money for the Azumah Nelson Foundation in Accra, which is building a school of excellence for 1000 under-privileged Ghanian children.
He lost 12kg to make the 70kg weight limit and alleges he promised Fenech's family he wouldn't hurt him in any way.
"But if I know before the fight that some people tell lies, then I would have knocked him out," Nelson said. "His family so worried I hurt him, so, I tell them no, I will not hurt him.
"I tried to fight him like I was sparring with him, because he don't know how to box. First fight, second fight, third fight, he don't know how to box . . . just walk up going bang, bang, bang.
"After the fifth round he was puffing like a cow. He was so tired I had to hold him up."
